Preheating system for internalcombustion engines



Dec. 26, 1950 O. R. SCHOENROCK PREHEATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15 1948 Dec. 26, 1950 o, SCHOENROCK 2,535,758

PREHEATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ,1950

PREHEATIN G SYSTEM EOR INTERNAL- GOMBUSTION ENGINES,

Otto R. Schoenroch, Oak Park, 111,, assignor to L1. ,CaseCompany, Racine, Wis., a. corporation- (if-Wisconsin ApplicationMaylS, 194s; SeriaINO- 27,295 ccla ms. (01123-1425) This invention: relates to. preheating systems for internal combustionengines. and, more particularly to a preheating. system. which has for itsesource of heat a, small air heating unit.

Variouspreheatingmethodshave .been proposed but. such methods, have-been. either too costly to produce or, ineffective in their operation at, extremely low temperatures. For instance, the method of inserting, electric heating coilsthe air intake manifoldis; too expensive as well, as

bulky in construction because of the very large storage batteries required to supply the needed electric current: Also, the glow plug method has not proven too effective at; extremely low temperatures because itis, oi aone-shotvtype heater, anddoes; not produceienough, lasting heat. Thus it. is theobject of this, invention to provide, anim-w proved. preheating system which is inexpensive to produce, compact in, construction, and eftective in. its operationregardlessj of the severity of low temperatures.

Itis a furtherobiect of this inventiento provide apparatus which will allow the heated air; from the air heating unit. to be directed to a greater number of parts: of the engine andthereby reduce the starting torque which, in turn, will reduce the side battery and starter required for operation of the} engine.

Further and additional objects will, appear from,

the description; accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In carrying out this invention, in one form, the source of heat is derived from a small conventional type heater, which has agas burner and fan in combination with an electric flame igniting device. The heated air fromsaid heater is distributed to the various parts of the engine such as the oil pan, exposed fuel lines, and air intake manifold, by means. of a duct and; valve arrangement. Controlling means, is provided enabling the heated air to be directed to these various parts of the engine either independently, consecutively, or simultaneously depending upon the condition encountered when starting.

For more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of the preheating system and an internal combustion engine showing portions of the distributing ducts of the preheating system cut away to ex-- pose the valves of said ducts;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the opposite side of the preheating system and internal combustion engine from that shown in Fi 1;

Big. 3 is, a perspective diagrammatic view of the preheating system l, is a fragmentary front view of the engine showing the duct housing for preheating the exposed. fuel. lines;

Fig. 5. is a, fragmentary. sectional view. of the duct housing for preheating the oil pan as'taken alongline 5 5 as shown in Fig. 2)

Referring now to the drawings, the principal embodiments of this invention are an air hea'ting unit til, a duct arrangement 12 working in cone iunction with said. heater 1.0-, and control valves It for directing the flow of heated air from said heater [6, to various parts of the internal com.- bustion engine It. The air heater I0 is of} a small, conventional type witira high. heat output, preferably that of a hermetic combustiontype which has a ga burner and fan; in conjunction with an electric flame-igniting device.

The voltage demandf orf efiectiye operation of heater I0. is considerably less than that required in. the electric coil type preheating, thus enabling smaller storage batteries to be usedand thereby makingthe system more compact and. lightweight in construction and inexpensive to operate.

The duct arrangement 12, which: comprises a plurality of flexible duct branches I8, 20 and- 12, distributesthe heated air forced from the heater unit llito various parts of the engine 18, namely,

the oil pan 24, the exposed fuel lines 26, and theair intake manifold- 28.

Enclosed within each of the duct branches I8, 211 and Z2 is provided a -valve 33-, 32 and 34 which controls the amount of heated air forced through said. ducts.

Control-valve 30 within duct branch i8 is of a;

air around the oil pan. Said housing 36 is fas tened to the engineblock it by: bolts or any other suitable means. Means for exhausting the heated air about the oil pan 24 is provided by having the end 38 of the housing 36 open.

Control valve 32 within duct branch 20 is also of a butterfly type and controls the flow of air from the air-heater unit it to the exposed fuel lines 26. To the end of said duct branch 20 is attached a duct housing 43 which is shaped to jacket the exposed fuel lines 25 and therebyconfine and direct the heated air more effectively to said fuel lines 26. Said housing 40 is attached to the engine block. It by means of brackets 41,

3 The outlet for said heated air is at the forward open end :32 of said housing 40.

Control valve 34 in said duct branch 22 controls the amount of heated air from the heater ii) that may pass to the air intake manifold 28. Said control valve 34 is of a gate type and after the engine [6 has been sufficiently preheated and in operation, the gate valve 34 may be moved to I a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby cut ofi the heated air from the heater if]. The air supply for the intake manifold 28 then comes directly from the intake port 44 through duct branches 4B and 22 and by-passes the heater l as shown in Fig. 1. Thus control valves 30, 32 and 34 may be adjusted by the operator to direct the flow of heated air from said air heater B0 to the several parts mentioned above, either independently, consecutively, or simultaneously depending on the climatic conditions encountered.

Thus it will be seen from this description that a small, compact, inexpensive and efficient preheating system has been devised which will effectively preheat the engine regardless of the severity of the low temperatures within a short time after being put in operation. While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore, by the claims to cover any such modifications as may fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of fluid spaces to be heated, the combination of an air-heating unit, means for forcing the heated air from said unit, and means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of said spaces, said means comprising a plurality of valves, a controlling means for operating said valves, and directional ducts to further distribute the air forced from said unit to said fluid spaces.

2. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having exposed fuel lines to be heated, the combination of an air-heating unit, and means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of the exposed fuel lines comprising a directional duct housing to enclose said fuel lines, and means for forcing the heated air from said unit to said duct housing.

3. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of fluid spaces to be heated, the combination of an air-heating unit, means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of the exposed fuel lines and oil pan of said engine, said means comprising directional duct housings shaped to enclose said fuel lines and oil pan, a plurality of valves, and a controlling means for operating said valves, said means allowing both said fluid spaces 4 to be heated independently, consecutively, or si multaneously, and means for forcing the heated air from said unit to said housings.

4. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of fluid spaces to be heated, the combination of an air-heating unit, means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of the exposed fuel lines and the air entering the intake manifold of said engine, said means comprising a directional duct housing shaped to enclose said fuel lines, and a directional duct connected to the intake port of said manifold, a plurality of valves, and controlling means for operating said valves, said means enabling both fluid spaces to be heated independently, consecutively, or simultaneously, and means for forcing the heated air from said unit to said duct and duct housing.

5. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of fluid spaces to be heated, the combination of an air-heatingunit, means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of the oil pan and the air entering the intake manifold of said engine, said means comprising a directional duct housing shaped to enclose said oil pan, and directional duct connected to the intake port of k the said manifold, a plurality of valves, and conunit to said duct and duct housing.

6. In a preheating system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of fluid spaces to be heated, the combination of an air-heating unit, means for distributing the heated air forced from said unit to effect heating of the exposed fuel lines, oil pan, and the air entering the intake manifold of said engine comprising directional duct housings shaped to enclose said fuel lines and oil pan, and a directional duct connected to the intake port of said manifold, a plurality of valves and controlling means for operating said valves, enabling said fluid spaces to be heated independently, consecutively, or simultaneously, and means for forcing the heated air from said unit to said duct and duct housings.

OTTO R. SCHOENROCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kuehn Aug. 20, 1940 

